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The CTCA blog

It’s a stereotype that all too often rings true: Men frequently ignore signs when something is wrong with their health. Many refuse to see their doctor for health issues, let alone talk about them with their spouse or closest friends.

Recognizing the common signs of cancer—and more importantly, seeing a doctor about them—can increase a man’s chances of detecting the disease early on. More treatment options are available when cancer is diagnosed in an early stage.

Cancer patients can experience pain after surgery to treat their cancer or from the cancer itself. When patients are in pain, they often want to remain sedentary, which is understandable but may hinder their recovery. Effective pain management can help transition a patient from a hospital bed to a more active lifestyle.

Video: What’s the difference between the terms genetic and genomic?

What’s the difference between the terms genetic and genomic?

Our genes decide virtually everything about us. Can our genes also help uncover information about how to control cancer if it develops? First, we need to understand more about genetics versus genomics. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are, in fact, different.

For a patient diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, the old treatment approach was to immediately refer the patient to a surgeon, who typically performed a total mastectomy to remove the entire breast. Years later, total mastectomy was replaced by a more limited operation, where only the cancer was removed. This breast conserving surgery is often referred to as lumpectomy.

Skin cancer is the number one cancer in the United States, but also one of the most preventable if you apply sunscreen before heading out into the sunshine each day. Before throwing a bottle into your grocery cart, consider the different options available.

It’s one of the hardest choices many people will make in their lives, but also one of the most powerful. Forgiveness can be many things—frightening, challenging and, ultimately, freeing—but at its core, forgiveness is a choice.

Research shows that people who forgive are more likely to have higher self-esteem, lower blood pressure, fewer stress-related health issues and better immune system function, among other health benefits. To explain the role of forgiveness for cancer patients, we turned to Dr. Lynn Bornfriend, Psychiatrist at our hospital in Philadelphia.

As I said in my last blog post, avoid processed foods. Coincidentally, processed foods are a hot topic lately because of the release of Fed Up, a documentary investigating the obesity crisis. I have yet to see it but am thrilled by the reviews.

Check out the film’s tag line: “Everything we’ve been told about food and exercise for the past 30 years is dead wrong.”

Video: Nutrition Therapy at CTCA – Balanced Smoothies

Learn how to make a yummy super green smoothie and a berry breakfast smoothie.

Today, dietitians from our suburban Phoenix hospital share two tasty smoothie recipes that can help cancer patients maintain strength and weight. The Nutrition Therapy team’s Green Smoothie and Berry Breakfast Smoothie are easy energy boosters that help patients and caregivers alike get in their five to nine servings of fruits and veggies a day.

Widespread use of the Pap test has made cervical cancer screening a success in the United States. Before 1955, cervical cancer was a leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Then, by 1992, the cervical cancer death rate fell by almost 70 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

The Pap test, done as routine screening, is usually the first step in determining the health of a woman’s cervix. It’s “often considered the most successful cancer screening program the world has seen,” says Dr. Giuseppe Del Priore, National Director of Gynecologic Oncology at our hospitals.

Guidelines

The information contained in this blog is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in the blog is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment of any illness, condition or disease.